Allendale ordinance reflects newest police salaries

As Allendale just gained two new police officers, an ordinance reflecting salaries for members of the police department according to the most recent PBA contract was adopted at the July 26 Mayor and Council meeting.

A new contract between Allendale and the PBA was reached in April for a three-year agreement, spanning from Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2014.

The 2012-2014 guide includes a 2 percent increase for each contract year for current police employees who were hired prior to the end of last year.

It also includes state-mandated changes to health benefits contribution for public employees.

Existing police officers will have an increase to a maximum of 35 percent of their premium over the course of a four-year period. New officers and employees will immediately start paying 35 percent of their health care contributions.

The guide includes a stipend of $1,500 for each contract year given to a patrol officer/detective, whether a new employee or existing officers.

The salary list does not include overtime pay and excludes longevity, which will remain 10 percent for existing police officers and a maximum of 5 percent for new hires.

The new contract also eliminated sick pay incentive, per new state guidelines, which Mayor Vince Barra said is for all borough employees, not just police officers.

New employees guide

For new employees hired after Dec. 31, 2011, two additional salary steps were added bringing the number from seven to nine steps, but the starting salary for new hires at the academy level was reduced.

Eight of the nine patrol officer salary steps will have a set salary for 2012-2014.

In the ninth year, a maximum salary will include a 2 percent increase for each contract year and will match the maximum salary for existing police officers in their seventh year, which is between $113,803 and $118,401 for 2012-2014.

For an officer hired at the academy level, and with remainder of year included in the first step, there will be a set salary of $35,000, reduced from $43,000.

During the second year, a patrol officer will have a set salary of $44,571 for all three contract years while an officer in the third year will make $54,142.

In the fourth year, an officer will have a salary of $63,713 and in the fifth year officers will receive $73,284 for each of the three contract years.

In the sixth year, a patrol officer will make $82,855, then $92,426 in the seventh year.

An officer will have a salary of $101,997 in the eighth year.

During the ninth year, with a maximum salary, police officers will make $113,803 in 2012, $116,079 in 2013 and $119,401 in 2014.

New Patrol Officer Vincent Rizzo, who started on July 1, will start on the third salary step, which is an annual salary of $54,142, which will be prorated from his hire date until Dec. 31, 2012.

Barra said Rizzo will start on the third step because of his past experience as a police officer with the Port Authority.

Patrol Officer Dan Rosendahl, who is currently enrolled in the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute's Police Academy, and will come on as a full-time patrol officer in early January after his graduation from the academy, expected later this fall.